View source for Kannur

{{Short description|City in India}}
{{redirect|Cannanore}}{{about|the city in Kerala, India|the former city state|Kolathunadu|the district|Kannur district|the town in Karnataka|Kannur, Dakshina Kannada}}
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{{EngvarB|date=May 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                            = Kannur
| official_name                   =
| other_name                      = ''Cannanore''
| settlement_type                 = [[Metropolis]]
| image_skyline                   = {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| total_width              = 280
| image_style              =
| perrow                   = 1/2/2/2/1
| caption_align = center
| image1   = Kannur Skyline 3.jpg
| caption1 = Kannur Skyline
| image2   = IMG-20180224-WA0033.jpg
| caption2 = [[Kannur Beach|Payyambalam Beach]]
| image3   = Kial intergrated terminal.jpg
| caption3 = [[Kannur International Airport]]
| image4   = ഗാന്ധി സെർക്കിൾ,കാൽടെക്സ്.jpg
| caption4 = Gandhi Circle
| image5   = Kuppm-bridge.jpg
| caption5 = [[Kuppam River|Kuppam Bridge]]
| image6   = Kannur-Fort-22.jpg
| caption6 = [[St. Angelo Fort]]
| image7   = Peralassery Sri Subrahmanya Temple pond, Kannur (18).jpg
| caption7 = [[Peralasseri|Peralasseri Pond]]
| image8   = Ezhimala beach.JPG
| caption8 = [[Ezhimala (hill, Kannur)|Ezhimala Hill]]
}}
| nickname                        = Land of looms and lores
| map_alt                         =
| map_caption                     =
| pushpin_map                     = India Kerala#India#Asia#Earth
| pushpin_label_position          = right
| pushpin_map_alt                 =
| pushpin_map_caption             = Kannur (Kerala)
| coordinates                     = {{coord|11|52|28.2|N|75|22|13.4|E|display=inline,title}}[https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Kannur&params=11_52_28.2_N_75_22_13.4_E_type:city(232486)_region:IN-KL]
| subdivision_type                = [[Country]]
| subdivision_name                = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1               = [[States and union territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Kerala]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Kannur district|Kannur]]
<!-- Established -->
| established_date                =
| founder                         =
| named_for                       =
| parts_type                      = [[List of talukas of Kerala|Taluk]]
| parts                           = [[Kannur taluk|Kannur]]
| government_type                 = [[Municipal corporation|Municipal Corporation]]
| governing_body                  = [[Kannur Municipal Corporation]]
| leader_title                    = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name                     = Muslih Madathil ([[Indian Union Muslim League]])
| leader_title1                   = [[District Collector]]
| leader_name1                    = Arun K Vijayan, IAS<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=2024-07-30 |title=Relief camp opened in Thalassery; Kannur Collector calls for strict vigilance |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/relief-camp-opened-in-thalassery-kannur-collector-calls-for-strict-vigilance/article68463441.ece |access-date=2024-09-19 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
| leader_title2                   = [[Commissioner of Police (India)|Commissioner of Police(City)]]
| leader_name2                    = Ajith Kumar, IPS<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=2022-11-18 |title=New postings for top police officers |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/new-postings-for-top-police-officers/article66153803.ece |access-date=2024-10-15 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
| leader_title3                   = [[Superintendent of police (India)|Superintendent of Police (Rural)]]
| leader_name3                    = Nidhinraj P, IPS<ref>{{Cite web |title=Major reshuffle in Kerala Police Department, IPS transfers announced {{!}} Check full list |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2024/08/14/police-department-ips-reshuffle-kerala-full-list.html |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Onmanorama}}</ref>
| leader_title4                   = [[Member of Legislative Assembly|MLA]]s
| leader_name4                    = [[Kadannapalli Ramachandran]] ([[Kannur (State Assembly constituency)|Kannur]]) and [[K. V. Sumesh]] ([[Azhikode (State Assembly constituency)|Azhikode]])
| unit_pref                       = Metric
| area_footnotes                  =<ref name="Census2011cities"/><ref name="kudumbashree.org">http://www.kudumbashree.org › sub-district</ref>
| area_total_km2                  = 78.35
| area_metro_km2                  = 1003
| area_rank                       = 5
| elevation_footnotes             =
| elevation_m                     = 38.78
| population_total                = 232,486
| population_as_of                = 2011
| population_footnotes            =<ref name="Census2011cities"/><ref name="kudumbashree.org" />
| population_density_km2          = auto
| population_metro                = 1,640,986
| population_rank                 = 6
| population_metro_footnotes      =<ref name="auto">Kannur Metropolitan Urban Region Population 2011–2021 Census</ref>
| population_demonym              = ''Kannurkaran'' (Male)
''Kannurkari'' (Female)
''Kannurkar'' (Plural)
| demographics_type1              = [[Language]]s
| demographics1_title1            = Official
| demographics1_info1             = [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]], English
| timezone1                       = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1                     = +5:30
| postal_code_type                = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code                     = 670001
| area_code                       = +91497xxxxxxx
| area_code_type                  = [[Telephone]] code
| iso_code                        = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|IN-KL]]
| registration_plate              = [[List of RTO districts in India#KL.E2.80.94Kerala|KL]]-13
| blank4_name_sec1   = [[International airport]]
| blank4_info_sec1   = [[Kannur International Airport]]
| blank_name_sec1                 = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]
| blank_info_sec1                 = 1000:1090 [[male|♂]]/[[female|♀]]
| blank1_name_sec1                = [[Literacy rate]]
| blank1_info_sec1                = 96.23%
| blank2_name_sec1                = [[Lok Sabha]] constituency
| blank2_info_sec1                = [[Kannur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kannur]]
| blank3_name_sec1                = [[Niyamasabha]] constituencies
| blank3_info_sec1                = [[Kannur (State Assembly constituency)|Kannur]] & [[Azhikode (State Assembly constituency)|Azhikode]]
| website                         = {{URL|www.kannur.nic.in}}
{{URL|kannurcorporation.lsgkerala.gov.in}}
| footnotes                       =
}}
'''Kannur''' ({{IPA-ml|kɐɳːuːr|lang|Kannur_R1.ogg}}), formerly known in English as '''Cannanore''', is a [[Cities in India|city]] and a [[Municipal corporation (India)|municipal corporation]] in the state of [[Kerala]], [[India]]. It is the administrative headquarters of the [[Kannur district]] and situated {{convert|274|km}} north of the major port city and commercial hub [[Kochi]] and {{convert|137|km}} south of the major port city and a commercial hub, [[Mangalore]]. During the period of [[British Raj|British colonial rule in India]], when Kannur was a part of the [[Malabar District]] (Madras Presidency), the city was known as Cannanore. Kannur is the fifth largest urban agglomeration in Kerala.<ref name="EB1911">{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Cannanore|volume=5|page=184}}</ref> As of 2011 census, [[Kannur Municipal Corporation]], the local body which administers mainland area of city, had a population of 232,486.<ref name="Census2011cities"/><ref>{{Cite journal|last=KNR_DEC-Newsletter|date=December 2018|title=Kannur Municipal Corporation|url=http://kannurcorporation.lsgkerala.gov.in/sites/default/files/newsletters/KNR_DEC-Newsletter.pdf|journal=Kannur Municipal Corporation Newsletter}}</ref>
Kannur was the headquarters of [[Kolathunadu]], one of the four most important dynasties on the [[Malabar Coast]], along with the [[Zamorin of Calicut]], [[Kingdom of Cochin]] and [[Kingdom of Quilon]]. The [[Arakkal kingdom]] had right over the city of Kannur and [[Laccadive Islands]] in the late medieval period.<ref>{{cite book|author=Logan, William |year=2006|title=Malabar Manual|publisher=Mathrubhumi Books|location=Calicut|isbn=978-81-8264-046-7}}</ref> Kannur [[municipality]] was formed on 1 November 1866 by the Madras Act 10 of 1865 (Amendment of the Improvements in Towns Act 1850)<ref name="Towns Act">{{cite web|url=http://www.lawmin.nic.in/chronology.doc |title=CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF CENTRAL ACTS (Updated up to 17-10-2014) |website=Lawmin.nic.in |access-date=2016-08-07}}<br>- {{cite book |last=Lewis McIver |first=G. Stokes |title=Imperial Census of 1881 Operations and Results in the Presidency of Madras |date=1883 |publisher=E.Keys at the Government Press |location=Madras |page=444 |volume= II |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b_YIAAAAQAAJ |access-date=5 December 2020|via=Google Books}}<br>- {{cite book |title=Madras District Gazetteers, Statistical Appendix For Malabar District. |date=1915 |publisher=The Superintendent, Government Press |location=Madras |page=20 |volume=2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aUEwnQEACAAJ |access-date=2 December 2020|via=Google Books}}<br>- {{cite book |author=Henry Frowde  |title=Imperial Gazetteer of India |date=1908–1909 |publisher=Clarendon Press |location=Oxford |edition=New |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/ |access-date=2 December 2020}}</ref> of the [[British Indian Empire]], along with the municipalities of [[Thalassery]], [[Kozhikode]], [[Palakkad]] and [[Fort Kochi]], making them the first modern municipalities in the state. It was upgraded into a [[Municipal corporation (India)|municipal corporation]] in 2015.
[[Kannur Cantonment]] is the only [[cantonment]] board in Kerala.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kannur cantonment polls today |date=11 January 2015 |accessdate=28 May 2021 |work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kannur-cantonment-polls-today/article6776994.ece}}</ref> The [[Indian Naval Academy]] at [[Ezhimala]] is Asia's largest, and the world's third-largest, naval academy.<ref>{{cite news |title=Navy-Training Academy - proposed Expansion |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/627521/navy-training-academy-proposed-expansion.html |work=Deccan Herald |date=11 August 2017 }}<br>- {{cite news |title=Asia's largest naval academy opened |url=http://www.arabnews.com/node/319812 |work=Arab News |date=10 January 2009 }}<br>- {{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/IndianNavy/videos/train-as-you-will-fight-for-you-will-fight-as-you-shall-train-a-glimpse-into-the/390383354649864/|title=Indian Navy on Facebook Watch|website=Facebook}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=February 2024}} [[Muzhappilangad beach]] is the longest drive-in beach in Asia and appeared among the top six best beaches for driving in the world in a [[BBC]] ''Top Gear'' article.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20160617-the-worlds-best-beaches-for-driving|title=The best beaches for driving|last=Gibson|first=David K|website=Top Gear|access-date=2016-06-26}}<br>- {{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/viral-and-trending/240616/muzhappilangad-wins-bbc-favour.html|title=Muzhappilangad wins BBC favour|date=24 June 2016|website=The Deccan Chronicle}}</ref> During [[British Raj|British rule]], Kannur's chief importance laid in producing [[Thalassery cuisine|Thalassery pepper]].
== History ==
{{Main|History of Kannur}}
{{See also|Kolathunadu}}
[[File:Periplous of the Erythraean Sea.svg|left|thumbnail|Names, routes and locations of the ''[[Periplus of the Erythraean Sea]]'' (1st century CE)]]
[[File:Kannur Lighthouse.jpg|left|thumbnail|[[Kannur Lighthouse]]]]
[[File:Payyambalam Beach Back Water.jpg|left|thumbnail|Payyambalam beach]]
[[File:Minister Kuruppu's Arabic letter to da Gama (1524).jpg|left|thumb|[[Kolathiri|Kolattiri Raja]]'s (The ruler of Kannur) minister Kuruppu's [[Arabic]] letter to [[Vasco da Gama]] (1524)|235x235px]]
===Pre-history and Ancient era===
The earliest evidence of human habitation in the region are rock-cut caves and megalithic burial sites of the [[Neolithic]] age. The [[Taliparamba]]-Kannur-[[Thalassery]] area abounds in rock-cut caves, [[dolmen]]s, burial stone circles and [[menhir]]s, all of [[megalith]]. Kannur District was the seat of powerful kingdom based at [[Ezhimala]] in the [[Sangam period]] (1st–5th century CE). The ancient port of ''Naura'', which is mentioned in the ''[[Periplus of the Erythraean Sea]]'' as a port somewhere north of [[Muziris]] is identified with Kannur.<ref name="Ente_Kannur">{{cite book|author=Menon, A. Sreedhara |title=A Survey of Kerala History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FVsw35oEBv4C|year=2007|publisher=DC Books|isbn=9788126415786|via=Google Books}}</ref> [[Pliny the Elder]] (1st century CE) states that the port of ''[[Tyndis]]'' was located at the northwestern border of ''Keprobotos'' ([[Chera dynasty]]).<ref name=":2">{{cite journal|author1=Gurukkal, R.|author2=Whittaker, D. |year=2001|title=In search of Muziris|journal=Journal of Roman Archaeology|volume=14 |number=14|pages=334–350|doi=10.1017/S1047759400019978 |s2cid=164778915 }}</ref> The region, which lies north of the port at ''Tyndis'', was ruled by the kingdom of [[Ezhimala]] during the [[Sangam period]].<ref>{{cite book|author=A. Shreedhara Menon|title=A Survey of Kerala History}}</ref>
According to the ''[[Periplus of the Erythraean Sea]]'', a region known as ''[[Limyrike]]'' began at ''Naura'' and ''[[Tyndis]]''. However the [[Ptolemy]] mentions only ''[[Tyndis]]'' as the ''[[Limyrike]]'''s starting point. The region probably ended at [[Kanyakumari]]; it thus roughly corresponds to the present-day [[Malabar Coast]]. The value of [[Rome]]'s annual trade with the region was estimated at around 50,000,000 [[sesterces]].<ref>According to [[Pliny the Elder]], goods from India were sold in the Empire at 100 times their original purchase price. See [https://web.archive.org/web/20131106031753/http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/BookLibrary/books/bibliographie/P/Plinyelder/elder/pliny-india.html]</ref> [[Pliny the Elder]] mentioned that ''[[Limyrike]]'' was prone by pirates.<ref>Bostock, John (1855). "26 (Voyages to India)". Pliny the Elder, The Natural History. London: Taylor and Francis.</ref> The [[Cosmas Indicopleustes]] mentioned that the ''[[Limyrike]]'' was a source of peppers.<ref>Indicopleustes, Cosmas (1897). Christian Topography. 11. United Kingdom: The Tertullian Project. pp. 358–373.</ref><ref>Das, Santosh Kumar (2006). The Economic History of Ancient India. Genesis Publishing Pvt Ltd. p. 301.</ref>
The kingdom of [[Ezhimala]] had jurisdiction over two ''Nadu''s – The coastal ''Poozhinadu'' and the hilly eastern ''Karkanadu''. According to the works of [[Sangam literature]], ''Poozhinadu'' consisted much of the coastal belt between [[Mangalore]] and [[Kozhikode]].<ref name="Census_Handbook">{{Cite book|title=District Census Handbook, Kasaragod (2011)|publisher=Directorate of Census Operation, Kerala|location=Thiruvananthapuram|pages=9|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/3201_PART_B_KASARAGOD.pdf}}</ref> ''Karkanadu'' consisted of [[Wayanad]]-[[Gudalur, Nilgiris|Gudalur]] hilly region with parts of [[Kodagu]] (Coorg).<ref name="wnd">{{cite book
| author = Government of India | year=2014–2015
| title= District Census Handbook – Wayanad (Part-B) 2011 | publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala
| url= https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/3203_PART_B_WAYANAD.pdf
}}</ref> It is said that Nannan, the most renowned ruler of [[Ezhimala]] dynasty, took refuge at [[Wayanad]] hills in the 5th century CE when he was lost to [[Chera dynasty|Cheras]], just before his execution in a battle, according to the [[Sangam literature|Sangam works]].<ref name="wnd"/>
===Early Middle Ages===
According to [[Mappila|Kerala Muslim]] tradition, Kannur along with surrounding [[Madayi]] and [[Dharmadom]] were home to three of the [[Islam in India|oldest mosques]] in the [[Indian subcontinent]]. According to the [[Legend of Cheraman Perumals]], the first Indian mosque was built in 624 AD at Kodungallur with the mandate of the last ruler (the Cheraman Perumal) of [[Chera dynasty]], who left from [[Dharmadom]] to [[Mecca]] and converted to [[Islam]] during the lifetime of [[Muhammad]] (c.&nbsp;570–632).<ref>{{cite book |author=Jonathan Goldstein |title=The Jews of China |publisher=M. E. Sharpe |year=1999|isbn=9780765601049 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8Z6DlzyT2vwC |page=123}}</ref><ref name="SimpsonKresse2008">{{cite book |author1=Edward Simpson|author2=Kai Kresse|title=Struggling with History: Islam and Cosmopolitanism in the Western Indian Ocean|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w0qHKA7zEaEC&pg=PA333|access-date=24 July 2012 |year=2008|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-70024-5|pages=333}}</ref><ref name="Kupferschmidt1987">{{cite book|author=Uri M. Kupferschmidt|title=The Supreme Muslim Council: Islam Under the British Mandate for Palestine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ChEVAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA458|access-date=25 July 2012|year=1987|publisher=Brill|isbn=978-90-04-07929-8|pages=458–459}}</ref><ref name="Raṇṭattāṇi2007">{{cite book|author=Husain Raṇṭattāṇi|title=Mappila Muslims: A Study on Society and Anti Colonial Struggles |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xlb5BrabQd8C&pg=PA179|access-date=25 July 2012|year=2007|publisher=Other Books|isbn=978-81-903887-8-8|pages=179–}}</ref> According to ''[[Qissat Shakarwati Farmad]]'', the [[Mosque|''Masjids'']] at [[Kodungallur]], [[Kollam]], [[Madayi]], [[Barkur]], [[Mangalore]], [[Kasaragod]], Kannur, [[Dharmadam]], [[Koyilandy|Panthalayani]], and [[Chaliyam]], were built during the era of [[Malik Dinar]], and they are among the oldest ''Masjid''s in the [[Indian subcontinent]].<ref>Prange, Sebastian R. ''Monsoon Islam: Trade and Faith on the Medieval Malabar Coast.'' Cambridge University Press, 2018. 98.</ref> It is believed that [[Malik Dinar]] died at [[Thalangara]] in [[Kasaragod]] town.<ref name="ch">Pg 58, Cultural heritage of [[Kerala]]: an introduction, A. Sreedhara Menon, East-West Publications, 1978</ref>
[[File:Mappila Bay Fishing Harbour3.jpg|left|thumbnail|[[Mappila Bay]] harbour at [[Ayikkara]]. On one side, there is [[St. Angelo Fort]] (built in 1505) and on the other side is [[Arakkal kingdom|Arakkal palace]].]]
Ezhimala kingdom was succeeded by [[Mushika dynasty]] in the early medieval period, most possibly due to the migration of [[Tuluva Brahmin]]s from [[Tulu Nadu]]. The ''[[Mushika-vamsha]] Mahakavya'', written by [[Athula]] in the 11th century, throws light on the recorded past of the [[Mushika Kingdom|Mushika Royal Family]] up until that point.<ref name="Kola Swaroopam"/> The Indian anthropologist [[A. Aiyappan|Ayinapalli Aiyappan]] states that a powerful and warlike clan of the [[Bunt (community)|Bunt community]] of [[Tulu Nadu]] was called ''Kola Bari'' and the Kolathiri Raja of Kolathunadu was a descendant of this clan.<ref name="Aiyappan">{{cite book |last1=Ayinapalli |first1=Aiyappan |title=The Personality of Kerala |date=1982 |publisher=Department of Publications, [[University of Kerala]] |page=162 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SXFuAAAAMAAJ |access-date=27 July 2018 |quote=A very powerful and warlike section of the Bants of Tulunad was known as Kola bari. It is reasonable to suggest that the Kola dynasty was part of the Kola lineages of Tulunad.}}</ref> The kingdom of [[Kolathunadu]], who were the descendants of [[Mushika dynasty]], at the peak of its power reportedly extended from [[Netravati River]] ([[Mangalore]]) in the north<ref name="Kola Swaroopam">{{cite book |last1=Sreedhara Menon |first1=A. |title=''Kerala Charitram'' |year=2007 |publisher=DC Books |location=Kottayam |isbn=978-8126415885 |edition=2007 |page=175 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FAlXPgAACAAJ&q=%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%87%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%B3+%E0%B4%9A%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%82 |access-date=19 July 2020}}</ref> to [[Korapuzha]] ([[Kozhikode]]) in the south with [[Arabian Sea]] on the
west and [[Kodagu]] hills on the eastern boundary, also including the isolated islands of [[Lakshadweep]] in the [[Arabian Sea]].<ref name="Census_Handbook"/>
An [[Old Malayalam]] inscription ([[Ramanthali inscriptions]]), dated to 1075 CE, mentioning king Kunda Alupa, the ruler of [[Alupa dynasty]] of [[Mangalore]], can be found at [[Ezhimala]] near Kannur.<ref>Narayanan, M. G. S. ''Perumāḷs of Kerala''. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 483.</ref> The [[Arabic]] inscription on a copper slab within the [[Madayi Palli|Madayi Mosque]] in Kannur records its foundation year as 1124 CE.<ref name="Madayi">{{cite book
| author = Charles Alexander Innes | year=1908
| title= Madras District Gazetteers Malabar (Volume-I) | publisher=Madras Government Press |pages=423–424
| url= https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.358941/mode/2up
}}</ref> In his book on travels (''[[Il Milione]]''), [[Marco Polo]] recounts his visit to the area in the mid 1290s. Other visitors included [[Faxian]], the Buddhist pilgrim and [[Ibn Batuta]], writer and historian of [[Tangiers]]. The [[Kolathunadu]] in the late medieval period emerged into independent 10 principalities i.e., [[Kadathanadu]] ([[Vadakara]]), [[Dharmadom|Randathara]] or Poyanad ([[Dharmadom]]), [[Kingdom of Kottayam|Kottayam]] ([[Thalassery]]), [[Nileshwaram]], Iruvazhinadu ([[Panoor (Municipality)|Panoor]], [[Kurumbranad]] etc., under separate royal chieftains due to the outcome of internal dissensions.<ref name="Logan">{{Cite book|title=Malabar Manual (Volume-I)|last=Logan|first=William|publisher=Asian Educational Services|year=2010|isbn=9788120604476|location=New Delhi|pages=631–666}}</ref> The [[Nileshwaram]] dynasty on the northernmost part of [[Kolathiri]] dominion, were relatives to both Kolathunadu as well as the [[Zamorin]] of [[Calicut]], in the early medieval period.<ref name="Neeleswaram fete">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/neeleswaram-fete-to-showcase-its-heritage/article2645520.ece | title=Neeleswaram fete to showcase its heritage | website=The Hindu | date=21 November 2011 | access-date=24 November 2016 }}</ref>
Kannur was an important trading center in the 12th century, with active business connections with [[Persia]] and [[Arabia]]. The port at [[Kozhikode]] held the superior economic and political position in medieval Kerala coast, while Kannur, [[Kollam]], and [[Kochi]], were commercially important secondary ports, where the traders from various parts of the world would gather.<ref name="Malekandathil">''The Portuguese, Indian Ocean and European Bridgeheads 1500–1800''. Festschrift in Honour of Prof. K. S. Mathew (2001). Edited by: Pius Malekandathil and T. Jamal Mohammed. Fundacoa Oriente. Institute for Research in Social Sciences and Humanities of MESHAR (Kerala)</ref>
===Era of European influences===
Kannur served as the [[Presidency armies|East India Company military]] headquarters on India's west coast until 1887.<ref name="EB1911"/> The modern town is referred to as Kannur Town. Kannur, as a district and surrounding areas, were mostly ruled by the famous [[Kolathiri Rajas]]. When the state of Kerala was formed the district took the name Kannur since the administrative offices were established here. Before that, Kannur was the headquarters of [[Chirakkal, Kannur|Chirakkal]] [[taluk]] of [[Malabar District]] in the [[Madras Presidency]]. During the period of [[Company rule in India]], the [[East India Company]] preferred Madras and Cochin as their major stations and Kannur started to lose its old glory. The people of Kannur are still waiting for their old glory to get back and they feel they are being sidelined because the state administration is located the exact opposite side of the state. Part of the original city of Kannur was under Kerala's only Muslim Royalty called the Arakkal and this area is still known as city.
The Portuguese explorer [[Vasco da Gama]] arrived at [[Kappad]] [[Kozhikode]] in 1498 during the [[Age of Discovery]], thus opening a direct sea route from Europe to South Asia.<ref>DC Books, Kottayam (2007), A. Sreedhara Menon, A Survey of Kerala History</ref> In 1501 a Portuguese factory was planted here by [[Pedro Álvares Cabral]], and in 1502 da Gama made a treaty with the Raja.<ref name="EB1911"/> The [[St. Angelo Fort]] at Kannur was built in 1505 by Dom [[Francisco de Almeida]], the first Portuguese Viceroy of India. The Dutch captured the fort from the Portuguese in 1663. They modernised the fort and built the bastions Hollandia, Zeelandia, and Frieslandia that are the major features of the present structure. The original Portuguese fort was pulled down later. A painting of this fort and the fishing ferry behind it can be seen in the [[Rijksmuseum]] Amsterdam. The Dutch sold the fort to king Ali Raja of Arakkal in 1772.
During the 17th century, Kannur was the capital city of the only [[Muslim]] Sultanate in Kerala, known as [[Arakkal]], who also ruled the [[Laccadive Islands]] in addition to the city of Kannur.<ref name=anathapuri>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ananthapuri.com/kerala-history.asp?page=muslim|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605222957/http://ananthapuri.com/kerala-history.asp?page=muslim|url-status=dead|title=Arakkal royal family|archivedate=5 June 2012}}</ref> [[Arakkal Kingdom]] and [[Chirakkal Raja|Chirakkal kingdom]] were two vassal kingdoms based in the city of Kannur. The island of [[Dharmadom]] near Kannur, along with [[Thalassery]], was ceded to the [[East India Company]] as early as 1734, which were claimed by all of the [[Kolathiri|''Kolattu Rajas'']], [[Kingdom of Kottayam|''Kottayam Rajas'']], ''[[Mannanar]]''<ref>{{cite book|last=P.J Rajendran|title=Kshethravinjanakosam|year=2000|publisher= D.C.Books publishing, Google books|page=103|isbn=9788126402540}}</ref> and [[Arakkal kingdom|''Arakkal Bibi'']] in the late medieval period, where the British initiated a factory and English settlement following the [[cession]].<ref name="Eng_cession">{{cite book
| author = Charles Alexander Innes | year=1908
| title= Madras District Gazetteers Malabar (Volume-I) |page=451
| publisher=Madras Government Press
| url= https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.358941/mode/2up
}}</ref><ref name="Logan"/> Then the East India Company [[Capture of Cannanore|captured the fort Kannur]] in 1790 and used it as one of their major military stations on the [[Malabar Coast]]. During the period of [[British Raj|British colonial rule]], Kannur was part of the [[Madras]] province in the [[Malabar District|Malabar]] District.
In 1761, the British captured [[Mahé, India|Mahé]], and the settlement was handed over to the ruler of [[Kadathanadu]].<ref name="Mahé"/> The British restored [[Mahé, India|Mahé]] to the French as a part of the 1763 Treaty of Paris.<ref name="Mahé"/> In 1779, the Anglo-French war broke out, resulting in the French loss of [[Mahé, India|Mahé]].<ref name="Mahé"/> In 1783, the British agreed to restore to the French their settlements in India, and [[Mahé, India|Mahé]] was handed over to the French in 1785.<ref name="Mahé">{{cite web|url=http://mahe.gov.in/mws/leftmenupages/history.html|title=History of Mahé|access-date=19 April 2021|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230232052/http://mahe.gov.in/mws/leftmenupages/history.html|archive-date=30 December 2013}}</ref>
Initially the British had to suffer local resistance against their rule under the leadership of [[Pazhassi Raja|Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja]], who had popular support in [[Thalassery]]-[[Wayanad]] region.<ref name="Ente_Kannur"/> The guerrilla war launched by [[Pazhassi Raja]], the ruler of Kottayam province, against the East India Company had a huge impact on the history of Kannur. Changes in the socio-economic and political sectors in Kerala during the initial decades of the 20th century created conditions congenial for the growth of the Communist Party. Extension of English education initiated by Christian missionaries in 1906 and later carried forward by government, rebellion for wearing a cloth to cover upper parts of body, installing an idol at Aruvippuram in 1888, Malayali Memorial in 1891, establishment of SNDP Yogam in 1903, activities, struggles etc. became factors helpful to accelerate changes in Kerala society during a short time. These movements eventually coalesced into the [[Indian independence movement]].
Very soon, ideas about socialism and [[Soviet Revolution]] reached Kerala. Such ideas got propagated in Kerala through the works of [[Swadeshabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai]], [[Sahodaran Ayyappan]], [[P. Kesavadev]] and others. By the beginning of the 1930s, some other useful developments were taking place. Important among them was Nivarthana Agitation in Travancore. That was the demand of people suppressed so far as untouchables and weaker sections for participation in government. This brought to the forefront struggles like proportional representation in government and reservation of jobs. This imparted a new enthusiasm among oppressed masses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keralatourism.org/destination/destination.php?id=100|title=Pazhassi Raja Museum and Art Gallery, Kozhikode – Kerala Tourism|access-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115215308/http://www.keralatourism.org/destination/destination.php?id=100|archive-date=15 November 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><gallery mode="packed" widths="175">
File:Cannonore fort & Bay'; a watercolor by John Johnston, c.1795-1801.jpg|[[:File:Cannonore fort & Bay'; a watercolor by John Johnston, c.1795-1801.jpg|Cannonore fort & Bay'; a watercolor by John Johnston, c.1795-1801]]
File:City of Cannanore, 1572.jpg|A portrait of Kannur drawn in 1572, from [[Georg Braun]] and [[Frans Hogenberg]]'s atlas ''Civitates orbis terrarum'', Volume I
</gallery>
== Geography and climate ==
{{See also|Tourist attractions in Kannur}}
[[File:Vpra floating park boat walking path.jpg|thumbnail|Vayalapra Lake near [[Madayi]]]] [[File:Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach 2.jpg|left|thumbnail|[[Muzhappilangad Beach]], the longest Drive-in Beach in Asia, is located in Kannur]]Kannur has an elevation of {{convert|1.02|m|feet|disp=or}} along the coast of the [[Laccadive Sea]], with a sandy coastal area. The city has an {{convert|8|km|mile|1}}-long seashore and a {{convert|3|km|mile|1}}-long beach at [[Payyambalam]]. Kannur is located north of [[Kozhikode]], south of [[Kasaragod|Kasargod]] and [[Mangalore]], west of the [[Western Ghat]] regions of [[Kodagu district|Kodagu]] and [[Wayanad district|Wayanad]], and east of the [[Laccadive Sea]]. [[Mappila Bay]] harbour at [[Ayikkara]]. On one side, there is [[St. Angelo Fort]] (built in 1505) and on the other side is [[Arakkal kingdom|Arakkal palace]]. [[Muzhappilangad Beach]], the longest Drive-in Beach in Asia, is located in Kannur. Vayalapra Lake is near [[Madayi]].
=== Climate ===
Kannur is ranked among top 10 Indian cities with the cleanest air and best [[Air quality index|AQI]] in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-21 |title=India’s top 10 cities with the best air quality in 2024: Global cities’ AQI insights revealed |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/trending/top-10-listing/top-10-indian-cities-with-best-air-quality-index-aqi-2024-9680798/ |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Kannur experiences a very wet [[tropical monsoon climate]] (''Am'' under the [[Köppen climate classification]].) In the months of April and May, the average daily maximum temperature is about {{convert|35|C}}. Temperatures are moderate in December and January: about {{convert|24|C|F|1|disp=or}}. Like other areas on the [[Malabar Coast]], this city receives heavy rainfall during the [[Southwest monsoon]]. The annual average rainfall is {{convert|3438|mm|in|0|disp=or}}, around 68 per cent of which is received in summer.<ref name="KannurClimate">[http://www.calicutnet.com/yourtown/kannur/Climate.htm Climate: Kannur (Cannanore)] CalicutNet.com</ref>{{Weather box
| width = auto
| location = Kannur (1981–2010, extremes 1978–2012)
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| temperature colour = pastel
| Jan record high C = 36.7
| Feb record high C = 37.6
| Mar record high C = 38.5
| Apr record high C = 38.3
| May record high C = 37.7
| Jun record high C = 36.8
| Jul record high C = 33.0
| Aug record high C = 33.2
| Sep record high C = 34.0
| Oct record high C = 35.0
| Nov record high C = 37.0
| Dec record high C = 35.8
| year record high C = 38.5
| Jan high C = 33.1
| Feb high C = 33.6
| Mar high C = 34.2
| Apr high C = 34.4
| May high C = 33.5
| Jun high C = 30.1
| Jul high C = 29.2
| Aug high C = 29.4
| Sep high C = 30.4
| Oct high C = 31.2
| Nov high C = 32.4
| Dec high C = 32.9
| year high C = 32.0
| Jan low C = 21.5
| Feb low C = 22.4
| Mar low C = 24.2
| Apr low C = 25.6
| May low C = 25.3
| Jun low C = 23.6
| Jul low C = 23.1
| Aug low C = 23.1
| Sep low C = 23.3
| Oct low C = 23.4
| Nov low C = 23.0
| Dec low C = 21.9
| year low C = 23.4
| Jan record low C = 16.4
| Feb record low C = 17.8
| Mar record low C = 19.0
| Apr record low C = 21.7
| May record low C = 20.0
| Jun record low C = 20.6
| Jul record low C = 20.4
| Aug record low C = 20.7
| Sep record low C = 20.9
| Oct record low C = 19.4
| Nov record low C = 17.8
| Dec record low C = 16.1
| year record low C = 16.1
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 0.7
| Feb rain mm = 0.6
| Mar rain mm = 23.8
| Apr rain mm = 52.9
| May rain mm = 229.4
| Jun rain mm = 995.2
| Jul rain mm = 830.5
| Aug rain mm = 541.2
| Sep rain mm = 230.3
| Oct rain mm = 270.1
| Nov rain mm = 117.3
| Dec rain mm = 28.1
| Jan rain days = 0.2
| Feb rain days = 0.1
| Mar rain days = 0.8
| Apr rain days = 2.8
| May rain days = 7.7
| Jun rain days = 23.7
| Jul rain days = 25.5
| Aug rain days = 21.8
| Sep rain days = 11.2
| Oct rain days = 11.2
| Nov rain days = 4.9
| Dec rain days = 1.1
| time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 63
| Feb humidity = 64
| Mar humidity = 66
| Apr humidity = 67
| May humidity = 71
| Jun humidity = 84
| Jul humidity = 86
| Aug humidity = 84
| Sep humidity = 81
| Oct humidity = 78
| Nov humidity = 73
| Dec humidity = 65
| year humidity = 73
| source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref name=IMDnormals>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| title = Station: Cannanore Climatological Table 1981–2010
| work = Climatological Normals 1981–2010
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = January 2015
| pages = 167–168
| access-date = 29 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDextremes>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = December 2016
| page = M106
| access-date = 29 February 2020}}</ref>
}}
== Civic administration ==
[[File:Kannur Skyline 3.jpg|thumbnail|Skyline of Kannur city]]
Kannur municipality was formed on 1 November 1866 according to the Madras Act 10 of 1865 (Amendment of the Improvements in Towns act 1850)<ref name="Towns Act"/> of the [[British Indian Empire]], along with the municipalities of [[Thalassery]], [[Kozhikode]], [[Palakkad]], and [[Fort Kochi]], making them the first modern municipalities in the state. It was upgraded into a [[List of cities and towns in Kerala|Municipal Corporation]] in the year 2015.<ref name="kmc">{{Cite news|last=Special Currespondent|date=14 January 2015|title=Kannur to be City Corporation|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kannur-to-be-city-corporation/article6789317.ece|access-date=6 March 2021}}</ref>
The city is administered by the [[Kannur Municipal Corporation]], headed by a mayor. The corporation is headed by a Mayor and council, and manages 78.35&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> of Kannur city, with a population of about 232,486 within that area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011|url=http://urbanaffairskerala.org/images/downloads/ulb_population2011.pdf|work=Population of the urban local bodies in Kerala (2011)|publisher=Government of Kerala|accessdate=4 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="Corporation councillors">{{cite web|title=Kannur Corporation, Councillors|url=https://lsgkerala.gov.in/en/lbelection/electdmemberdet/2020/1259|access-date=6 March 2020|publisher=Department of Local Self Governance, Kerala}}</ref> For administrative purposes, the city is divided into 55 divisions, from which the members of the corporation council are elected for five years. [[Kannur Municipal Corporation]] is divided into six zones: Kannur town, [[Pallikunnu]], [[Puzhathi]], [[Edakkad]], [[Kannur East|Elayavoor]], and [[Chelora]].<ref name="kmc" />
{| class="wikitable" style="float:center; text-align:center; margin:0 0 0 1em;"
|-
!colspan="2"|Kannur Municipal Corporation
|-
|[[Mayor]]
|Muslih Madathil
|-
|[[Deputy Mayor]]
|Adv. P Indira
|-
|[[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]]
|[[K. Sudhakaran]]<ref>{{Cite news|last=Times Now Digital|date=23 May 2019|title=Kannur Election Result 2019: Congress' K Surendran has won by over 95,000 votes and will be Kannur MP|work=Times Now|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/elections/article/kannur-kerala-election-2019-kannur-election-results-candidates-voter-population-polling-percentage/409551}}</ref>
|-
|[[District Collector]]
|Arun K Vijayan, IAS<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=2024-07-30 |title=Relief camp opened in Thalassery; Kannur Collector calls for strict vigilance |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/relief-camp-opened-in-thalassery-kannur-collector-calls-for-strict-vigilance/article68463441.ece |access-date=2024-09-19 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
|-
|[[Police Commissioner|City Police Commissioner]]
|Ajith Kumar, IPS
|}
Kannur Corporation is the fifth City Corporation in Kerala after the creation of the state. Established in 2015, Kannur Corporation's first mayor was E. P. Latha.<ref>{{Cite news|last=PTI|date=18 November 2015|title=CPI(M) rides to power in five of six corporations in Kerala|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/cpim-rides-to-power-in-five-of-six-corporations-in-kerala/articleshow/49831638.cms|access-date=6 March 2021}}</ref> Kannur corporation has two assembly constituencies – [[Kannur (State Assembly constituency)|Kannur]] and [[Azhikode (State Assembly constituency)|Azhikode]] – both of which are part of [[Kannur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kannur]] parliamentary constituency.
===Kannur Municipal Corporation Election 2020===
{|class="sortable wikitable"
|+[[2020 Kerala local body elections|Kannur Municipal Corporation Election 2020]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kannur Corporation election 2020|url=http://trend.kerala.gov.in/views/index.php|access-date=6 March 2021|website=lbtrend}}</ref>
|-
!S.No. !! Party Name !! Party symbol !! Number of Councillors
|-
| 01 || [[United Democratic Front (Kerala)|UDF]] ||[[File:UDF logo.png|50px]]|| 34
|-
| 02 || [[Left Democratic Front (Kerala)|LDF]] ||[[File:Left Democratic Front (Kerala) Logo.svg|50px]] || 19
|-
| 03 || [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] ||[[File:BJP election symbol.svg -783x768.png|50px]] || 01
|-
| 04 || Independents || [[File:No flag.svg|75px]] || 01
|-
|}
===Kannur Municipal Corporation Election 2015===
{|class="sortable wikitable"
|+[[2015 Kerala local body elections|Kannur Municipal Corporation Election 2015]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kannur Corporation election 2015|url=http://117.239.77.93/lbtrend/lbtrend2015/views/index.php|access-date=6 March 2021|website=lbtrend}}</ref>
|-
!S.No. !! Party Name !! Party symbol !! Number of Councillors
|-
| 01 || [[United Democratic Front (Kerala)|UDF]] ||[[File:UDF logo.png|50px]]|| 27
|-
| 02 || [[Left Democratic Front (Kerala)|LDF]] ||[[File:Left Democratic Front (Kerala) Logo.svg|50px]] || 27
|-
| 03 || Independents || [[File:No flag.svg|75px]] || 01
|}
===Law and order===
The Kannur City Police is headed by a commissioner, an [[Indian Police Service]] (IPS) officer. The city is divided into some zones each under a circle officer. Apart from regular law and order, the city police comprise the traffic police, bomb squad, dog squad, fingerprint bureau, women's cell, juvenile wing, narcotics cell, riot force, armed reserve camps, district crime records bureau and a women's station.<ref name="KCP">
{{cite web|title=Kannur City Police|url=https://kannur.keralapolice.gov.in/kannur-police/history/kannur-police-history|access-date=28 May 2021|publisher=Kannur City Police}}</ref> It operates several police stations functioning under the Home Ministry of [[Government of Kerala]].
==Demographics==
{{Pie chart
| thumb   = right | caption = '''Religions in Kannur City''' (2011)<br /><br />{{small|'''source: '''Kannur City Census 2011 data}}
| value1  = 56.3
| label1  = [[Hinduism]]
| color1  = darkorange
| value2  = 37.9
| label2  = [[Islam]]
| color2  = green
| value3  = 5.0
| label3  = [[Christianity]]
| color3  = blue
| value4  = 0.8
| label4  = Others
| color4  = grey
}}
According to the 2011 census of India,<ref>{{Cite book|title=District Census Handbook – Kannur (2011) – Part XII-B|publisher=Directorate of Census Operations Kerala|year=2014–2015|location=Thiruvananthapuram|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/3202_PART_B_KANNUR.pdf}}</ref> Kannur city has a population of {{formatnum:232486}}.<ref name="Census2011cities">{{cite web|title=Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011|url=http://urbanaffairskerala.org/images/downloads/ulb_population2011.pdf|work= Population of the urban local bodies in Kerala (2011)|publisher=Government of Kerala|accessdate=4 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="kmc"/><ref name="kudumbashree.org"/><ref name="auto"/> Males constitute 46.2% of the population and females 53.8%. Kannur has an average literacy rate of 96.23%, higher than the national average of 74.04%. Male literacy is 98% and female literacy is 94%. In Kannur, 12% of the population is under six years of age.
The [[Anglo-Indian]] community in Kannur live mainly in the [[Kannur Cantonment]] of Burnacherry and its surrounding areas of Thillery, No.3 Bazaar and Camp Bazaar. [[Malayalam]] is the administrative and local language.
== Education ==
[[File:Kannur University.JPG|left|thumbnail|The [[Kannur University]]]]
[[File:Academy pic.jpg|thumbnail|[[Indian Naval Academy]] at [[Ezhimala]], Kannur, is the largest naval academy in Asia]]
[[File:Pariyaramknr.png|left|thumbnail|[[Government Medical College, Kannur]]]]{{See also|List of educational institutions in Kannur district}}
[[Indian Naval Academy]] is situated in [[Ezhimala]], Kannur. Naval cadets are trained here in 2500 acres vast campus. Kannur District has five [[Kendriya Vidyalaya]] at Kannur, Keltron Nagar, Payyanur, Ezhimala, and Thalassery, Peringome.
[[Kannur University]] was established by Act 22 of 1996 of the [[Kerala Legislative Assembly]]. The university by the name "Malabar University" had come into existence earlier by the promulgation of an ordinance by the governor of Kerala, on 9 November 1995. The university was inaugurated on 2 March 1996 by [[A. K. Antony]], the [[Chief Minister of Kerala]]. The objective of the [[Kannur University]] Act 1996 was to establish in the state of Kerala a teaching, residential and affiliating university so as to provide for the development of higher education in [[Kasargod District|Kasargod]] and [[Kannur District|Kannur]] revenue districts and the [[Mananthavady]] Taluk of [[Wayanad]] district. [[Kannur University]] is a multi-campus university.
[[Government Brennen College]], the first college in Kannur, established in the year 1862, provide education to more than 2500 students. [[Government College of Engineering, Kannur]] was established in 1986 near [[Anthoor|Dharmasala, Kannur]] as a center for imparting engineering education in northern Kerala.<ref name="GCEK">{{cite web|url=http://gcek.ac.in|title=Welcome|author=Administrator|access-date=5 April 2015}}</ref> The college is among the top ten engineering colleges of the state, providing higher studies in the field of technical education.
The [[Government Medical College, Kannur]] was established in 1993 at [[Pariyaram]] to serve Kannur city and surroundings. The thirteenth [[National Institute of Fashion Technology]] (NIFT) Campus is located at [[Dharmashala, Kannur]] {{cvt|16|km}} north of Kannur City.
== Media ==
[[File:Albert einstein statue.JPG|thumbnail|Statue of Albert Einstein at the Science Park, Kannur]]
Many local cable television channels are available in Kannur. The most popular cable channels are City Channel, City Gold, City Juke, Network Channels, Zeal Network, Kannur Vision, World Vision, Worldvision Music, Chakkarakkal, Gramika channel Koothuparamba and Kannurone.
[[All India Radio]] is broadcast in Kannur at 101.5 MHz. Private FM radio stations in Kannur include: [[Radio Mango]] 91.9 ([[Malayala Manorama|Malayala Manorama Co Ltd]]), [[Club FM 94.3]] ([[Mathrubhumi|Mathrubhumi Printing And Publishing Co Ltd]]), [[Red FM (India)|Red FM]] 93.5 ([[Sun TV Network|Sun Network]]) and [[BEST FM 95|Best FM]] 95.0 (Asianet Communications Ltd).
A number of newspapers are published from Kannur, including the ''[[Malayala Manorama]], [[Mathrubhumi]], [[Madhyamam]], [[Deshabhimani]], [[Deepika (newspaper)|Deepika]], [[Deepika (newspaper)#Rashtra Deepika|Rashtra Deepika]], [[Chandrika (Malayalam newspaper)|Chandrika]], [[Kerala Kaumudi]], [[Mangalam]], [[Janmabhumi]], Veekshanam, [[Thejas]]'', ''[[Siraj Daily|Siraj]]'', [[Suprabhaatham]], [[Janayugom]] and [[The New Indian Express]].
==Kannur Cuisine==
{{See also|Thalassery cuisine}}
{{Multiple image
| align             = centre
| direction         = horizontal
| width             = 150
| header_align      = left/right/center
| footer_align      = left/right/center
| header_background =
| footer_background =
| image1            = Pathiri.jpg
| caption1          = ''[[Pathiri]]'', a pancake made of [[rice flour]], is one of the common breakfast dishes in Kannur
| image2            = KallummakkayaNirachath.jpg
| caption2          = ''Kallummakkaya nirachathu'' or ''arikkadukka'' (mussels stuffed with rice)
| caption3          = Thalassery ''biryani'' with ''[[raita]]''
| image4            = Calicut Halwa.jpg
| caption4          = Halwas are popular in Kannur and [[Thalassery]]
}}
The Kannur cuisine depicts it culture and heritage. It is famous for [[Malabar biriyani]]. The city is also famous for [[Halva#India|Haluva]] called as ''Sweet Meat'' by Europeans due to the texture of the sweet. Another specialty is [[Banana chip#India|banana chips]], which are made crisp and wafer-thin. Other popular dishes include seafood preparations ([[Shrimp and prawn as food|prawns]], [[Mussel|mussels]], [[Mackerel as food|mackerel]]) . Vegetarian fare includes the [[sadya]].
Kannur cuisine is a blend of traditional [[Kerala]], [[Cuisine of Iran|Persian]], [[Yemeni cuisine|Yemenese]] and [[Arab]] food culture.<ref name="MC">{{Cite news|title=Straight from the Malabar Coast|url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/food/straight-from-the-malabar-coast/article27942808.ece|last=Sabhnani|first=Dhara Vora|date=14 June 2019|access-date=26 January 2021|work=The Hindu}}</ref> This confluence of culinary cultures is best seen in the preparation of most dishes.<ref name="MC" /> ''Kallummakkaya'' ([[mussels]]) [[curry]], ''irachi puttu'' (''irachi'' meaning meat), ''parottas'' (soft flatbread),<ref name="MC" /> ''[[Pathiri]]'' (a type of rice pancake)<ref name="MC" /> and [[Ghee rice|''ghee'' rice]] are some of the other specialties. The characteristic use of spices is the hallmark of Kannur cuisine—[[black pepper]], [[cardamom]] and [[clove]] are used profusely.
The Kerala version of ''[[biryani]]'', popularly known as ''kuzhi mandi'' in [[Malayalam]] is another popular item, which has an influence from [[Yemen]]. Various varieties of ''biriyanis'' like [[Thalassery biriyani|Thalassery ''biriyani'']], and Kannur ''biriyani'',<ref>{{Cite web|date=23 June 2017|title=Thalassery Chicken Biriyani|url=https://www.thetakeiteasychef.com/thalassery-chicken-biriyani-recipe|access-date=2021-05-13|website=The Take It Easy Chef|language=en-GB}}</ref> are prepared here.<ref name="MC" />
The snacks include ''[[Unnakai|unnakkaya]]'' (deep-fried, boiled ripe banana paste covering a mixture of cashew, [[raisins]] and sugar),<ref name="MC_2">{{Cite news|title=Flavours unlimited from the Malabar coast|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Food/flavours-unlimited-from-the-malabar-coast/article6170291.ece|last=Kurian|first=Shijo|date=2 July 2014|access-date=26 January 2021|work=The Hindu}}</ref> ''[[Pazham pori|pazham nirachathu]]'' (ripe banana filled with [[coconut]] grating, [[molasses]] or sugar),<ref name="MC_2" /> ''[[Fios de ovos|muttamala]]'' made of [[egg as food|eggs]],<ref name="MC" /> ''[[chatti pathiri]]'', a dessert made of flour, like a baked, layered ''chapati'' with rich filling, ''arikkadukka'',<ref>{{Cite web|date=30 June 2020|title=Arikkadukka – Spicy Stuffed Mussels|url=https://www.facesplacesandplates.com/arikkadukka-spicy-stuffed-mussels/|access-date=2021-05-13|website=Faces Places and Plates|language=en-US}}</ref> and more.<ref name="MC" />
== Transportation ==
{{Main|Transportation in Kannur district}}
[[File:Fishing boats from Mattool Azheekkal.jpg|left|thumbnail|Fishing boats at [[Matool]] Azheekkal]]
[[File:Ptb kannur.jpg|thumb|[[Kannur International Airport]] serves the city of Kannur]]
Kannur has a good road network connecting to [[Mangalore]], [[Bangalore]], [[Mysore]], [[Kodagu]] and [[Cochin]]. The [[Kannur railway station|railway station]] is also well connected to all parts of India. The Kannur International Airport which is about 26&nbsp;km from the city began operations on 9 December 2018 and is the fourth international airport in the state. Other nearby airports are at [[Calicut International Airport|Calicut]], [[Mysore]] and [[Mangalore Airport|Mangalore]].
Kannur is on [[National Highway 17 (India)|National Highway 66]] or {{nowrap|NH 66}} (formerly National Highway 17) between [[Kozhikode]] and [[Mangalore]]. This highway is scheduled to be expanded to four lanes. A bypass for Kannur city is proposed under the NH widening project.
Kannur is connected to [[Kodagu]], [[Mysore]] and [[Bangalore]] in Karnataka by the Kannur-[[Coorg]]-[[Mysore]] Highway. This highway was upgraded to National Highway in 2017.
[[File:Kannur Railway Station, Kerala.jpg|thumb|[[Kannur railway station]]]]
[[Kannur railway station]] is one of the major stations of the [[Southern Railway zone]], under the jurisdiction of the {{rwd|Palakkad}}. All trains including the [[Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express]] and {{rws|Kochuveli}} [[Kochuveli-Lokmanya Tilak Garib Rath|Garib Rath]] stop at Kannur. Six daily trains and around 15 weekly or bi-weekly trains connect Kannur to the capital [[Thiruvananthapuram]]. Kannur is well connected through rail with [[Mangalore]] and [[Kozhikode]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mangalore to Kannur (Cannanore) – Trains|url=https://indiarailinfo.com/search/maq-mangaluru-central-mangalore-to-can-kannur-main-cannanore-/1470/0/1243|access-date=12 November 2017|publisher=India Rail Info}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Kannur (Cannanore) to Kozhikode – Trains|url=https://indiarailinfo.com/search/can-kannur-main-cannanore-to-clt-kozhikode-main-calicut-/1243/0/1242|access-date=12 November 2017|publisher=India Rail Info}}</ref>
[[Kannur South]] railway station and [[Edakkad]] railway stations are located under Kannur Corporation limits. Chirakkal railway station is located north of the city. Only passenger trains halt at these three stations.
[[Kannur International Airport]] in [[Mattanur]] was inaugurated on 9 December 2018. It is the fourth international airport in Kerala. The airport has a {{convert|4000|m||abbr=}} runway<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/real-estate/article/kerala-gets-its-4th-international-airport-at-kannur-10-point-cheat-sheet/296082|title=Kerala gets its 4th international airport at Kannur: 10-point cheat-sheet|website=timesnownews.com|date=8 October 2018 }}</ref> (the longest in the State) and state of the art passenger terminal as well other amenities. It is well connected by a comprehensive network of roads and a proposal for railway line has also been mooted. In the 2016–17 Union Railway budget, {{INRConvert|4|b}} were dedicated for this under Extra Budgetary Resource (EBR) in which a part of the bill will be borne by the State Government towards the railway line.
==Notable people==
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'''Literature:''' [[Sukumar Azhikode]], [[Oyyarathu Chandu Menon]], [[Cherusseri Namboothiri]], [[N. Prabhakaran]], [[T. Padmanabhan]], [[T. K. D. Muzhappilangad]]
'''Sports:''' [[Manuel Frederick]], [[Jimmy George]], [[V. P. Sathyan]], [[Denson Devadas]], [[C. K. Vineeth]], [[Sahal Abdul Samad]], [[Tintu Luka]], [[Chundangapoyil Rizwan]]
'''Political leaders:''' [[M. V. Raghavan]], [[Pinarayi Vijayan]], [[K. Karunakaran]], [[E. K. Nayanar]], [[K. K. Shailaja]], [[E. Ahamed]], [[Kodiyeri Balakrishnan]], [[E. P. Jayarajan]], [[Kadannappalli Ramachandran]], [[K. Sudhakaran]]
'''Actors:''' [[Sreenivasan]],
[[M. N. Nambiar]], [[Malavika Mohanan]], [[Samvrutha Sunil]], [[Mamta Mohandas]], [[Vineeth]], [[Vineeth Kumar]], [[Deepak Parambol]], [[Sanusha]], [[Sanoop Santhosh]], [[Nikhila Vimal]], [[Nivetha Thomas]], [[Sreekala Sasidharan]], [[Sneha Paliyeri]], [[Anju Aravind]], [[Athmiya Rajan]], [[Sruthi Lakshmi]], [[Parvathy Nambiar]], [[Ganapathi S Poduval]], [[Madonna Sebastian]], [[Sana Khan]], [[Santhosh Keezhattoor]]
'''Filmmakers:''' [[Bejoy Nambiar]], [[Salim Ahamed]], [[Vineeth Sreenivasan]], [[Dhyan Sreenivasan]]
'''Music (Composers):'''[[Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri]], [[Kannur Rajan]], [[Deepak Dev]], [[Ifthi]], [[Shaan Rahman]],
[[Sushin Shyam]], [[Sayanora Philip]]
'''Music (Playback singers):''' [[Vineeth Sreenivasan]], [[Shaan Rahman]], [[Sushin Shyam]], [[Sayanora Philip]], [[Arun Alat]]
'''Cinematographer:''' [[K. U. Mohanan]]
'''Dancer:''' [[Shamna Kasim]]
<!-- ONLY ADD A PERSON TO THIS SECTION IF THEY ALREADY HAVE A WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE AND ARE FROM KANNUR ITSELF - NOT FROM ELSEWHERE IN KANNUR DISTRICT-->
==See also==
*[[Kannur North]]
*[[Kannur East]]
*[[Places of worship in Kannur district]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Kannur&params=11_52_28.2_N_75_22_13.4_E_type:city(232486)_region:IN-KL GeoHack - Kannur]
{{Commons category|Kannur}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190517095943/https://kannur.gov.in/ Official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090427072410/http://kannur.nic.in/ Official website (Alternative URL)]
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